The
Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was the debut edition of the
Eurovision Song Contest, held at the
Teatro Kursaal in
Lugano,
Switzerland on Thursday 24 May. Organised by the
European Broadcasting Union, the pan-European music competition was an inspiration of the Italian
Sanremo Music Festival. Lohengrin Filipello hosted the first contest which lasted approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Seven countries participated, with each of them performing two songs. Two jury members from all participating countries cast their votes in secret, based on which song was their favourite.
Lys Assia won the contest for the host country
Switzerland with the song "
Refrain".